Mechanically preset setter board



Oct. 29, 1968 P. A. KLANN 3,407,699

MECHANICALLY PRESET ISETTER BOARD Filed Oct. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet lFIGI INVENTOR PAUL A. KLANN W BY Ml 44a7aLk ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1968KLANN 3,407,699

MECHANICALLY PRESET SETTER BOARD Filed Oct. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR PAUL A. KLANN BY ML, 784M M,

24 aJM-vlJ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,407,699 MECHANICALLY PRESETSETTER BOARD Paul A. Klann, P.O. Box 2398, Waynesboro, Va. 22980 FiledOct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,394 10 Claims. (Cl. 84-344) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A preset setter board provided with a plurality of stop tabspivoted on a panel member between an on and off position is alsoprovided with a plurality of push buttons each of which is capable ofshifting a predetermined number of stop tabs to provide a presetpattern. Each of the push buttons is connected to an elongated rockerarm which contacts a plurality of movable pin members arranged in pushrods which are arranged to operate the individual stop tabs. Each stoptab is mounted on a separate individual module for easy replacement andfor movement independent of the preset push button arrangement.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art ofelectro-pneumatic organs. More specifically, the improvement lies in amanual preset setter board arrangement whereby any desired combinationof stops may be chosen and grouped together for simultaneous operationso that upon sequential operation of several push buttons or manualpistons the organist may switch from one combination of stops to anotherwith accuracy and speed without interrupting the musical compositionbeing played.

This invention provides an improved mechanically presettable arrangementof stop tabs and manual pistons so that a predetermined combination ofstops may be activated on pressing a single manual piston. Morespecifically, this invention provides an improved mechanical matrixwhereby a number of combinations may be preset by manipulating a seriesof connecting pins within the matrix. This invention also provides animproved manner of mounting the stop tabs such that the stop tab and itsmounting means constitute an easily and quickly insertable and removablemodule.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a front view of the device with the stop tabs and pistonsprojecting through the front panel;

FIGURE 2 shows a top view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation sectional view of the r device taken alongline 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing the detailed structure and arrangement of asingle stop tab and piston;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to a portion of FIGURE 3 with the stop tab inits opposite position; and

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the stop tab mechanism viewed along the line5-5 in FIGURE 3.

More specifically, the drawings show a preset setter board for use withan electro-pneumatic organ comprising a frame member, a plurality ofstop tabs pivoted on said frame member between the on and the ofipositions, a plurality of piston members mounted in said frame memberfor reciprocating movement between a setting position and a normalposition, a support member mounted on said frame, a plurality ofparallel push rods slidably mounted on said support member forreciprocating movement along the length thereof, a pair of said pushrods being aligned with each stop tab respectively, one of each of saidpairs of said push rods adapted to ,engage a portion of its respectivestop tab to pivot said stop tab to said on position and the other ofeach of said pairs of push rods adapted to engage another por- "ice'tion of its respective stop tab to pivot said stop tab to said offposition, linkage means interconnecting each of said pistons with apredetermined number of said push rods whereby upon actuation of one ofsaid pistons to its setting position a predetermined number of stop tabswill be pivoted to the on position and a predetermined number of stoptabs may be pivoted to the off position.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the frame of the device is shown as a panel 6which in actual practice would constitute a portion of the console.Panel 6 has an elongated horizontally extending window 8 cuttherethrough on a downwardly extending angle. The upper and lowersurfaces of the window opening are provided with pads 10 of felt or thelike which are fastened to the panel 6 and provide a cushion for thestop tabs 12 which extends through the window 8. The stop tabs 12 arearranged in side-by-side relation with the portions thereof whichproject through the window 8 being accessible to the organist for manualmanipulation. These tabs 12 may carry appropriate descriptive matterwhich is not shown. Below the window 8 a series of manually operablepistons 14 are guided for reciprocating movement through the panel 6 inflanged bushings 16.

Referring to FIGURES 3-5 the mounting means for the stop tabs 12comprises a support bracket 18 which has a pair of upstanding ears 20which mount a pivot pin 22. The stop tab 12 is formed at its inner endwith a pair of leg portions 13, only one of which is visible in FIGURE3, which are adapted to straddle support bracket 18 and are joined to agenerally rectangular end plate 24 at an acute angle. The end plate 24is provided with a rectangular opening 25 which allows the ears 20 toproject therethrough to enable the plate 24 to be pivoted near itsmid-point on pivot pin 22. A soft pad 26 is mounted at each end of theend plate 24 to cushion the end plate where it is pivoted against thesupport bracket 18. At the upper and lower ends of the support bracket18 (FIGURE 5) an elongated notch 28 is formed to accommodate the shanksof screws 30 whereby the support bracket 18 may be clamped to the plate6. Immediately above the lower slot 28 a horizontally extending flange32 is provided. A retaining toggle spring 34 has one end on flange 32and the other end biased against the lower end of end plate 24 to holdthe stop tab 12 in either its raised or lowered position. From theforegoing it is seen that the bracket 18 and the stop tab 12 form acompact module which may readily be removed from the console by merelyloosening the lower screw 30 and removing the upper screw 30.

Reference numeral 36 (FIGURE 2) designates in general a mechanicalmatrix which enables preset combinations of stop members to be actuated.The matrix 36 is comprised of a plurality of parallel upper and lowerpush rods 38 and 39 which extend perpendicular to the panel 6. In FIGURE3 a single pair of push rods 38, 39 have been illustrated in conjunctionwith a specific tab member 12. The ends of push rods 38 and 39 remotefrom the panel 6 have reduced ends 40 and 41 respectively which areadapted to slidably project through holes 42 in the end bracket 44. Anannular pad 46 is mounted on each reduced end 48, 41 between the endbracket 44 and the thicker portion of the push rods 38 and 39 to cushionengagement of the push rods with the end bracket. The end of the pushrods 38, 39 adjacent stop tab 12 are also reduced at 48 and 50,respectively, and slidably extend through holes 42 in a second endbracket 45. The two end brackets 44 and extend beyond the ends of thewindow 8 in the panel 6 and provide openings 42 for all of the rods 38and 39 (FIGURE 2). A coil spring 52 is mounted on each reduced end 48,50 of the push rods 38, 39 between the enlarged portion of the push rods38,

3 r 39 and the end plates 45 to bias the push rods to the left as viewedin FIGURE 3 out of engagement with the end plate 24 of the stop tab 12.

Each push rod is provided with a series of spaced parallel verticallyextending holes 58 of equal diameter. Each hole is adapted to receive atapered pin 60 of a generally frusto-conical shape. The diameter of theholes 58 is such that the reduced end of the pins 60 are adapted to passtherethrough whereas the enlarged end of the pins are prevented frompassing through the holes. Each pin 60 is of suflicient length toproject substantially on either side of the push rod. Extending theentire length of the end bracket 44 is a guide member 62 in the form ofan elongated strip of material having a plurality of notches 63 cuttherein adjacent each push rod 38, 39. A pin 66 is mounted in theextreme left-hand hole 58 of each push rod as viewed in FIGURE 3 and theprojecting portion of each pin extends into its respective notch 63in,the guide bar 62 and slides therein upon reciprocation of the pushrod to prevent said push rod from rotating about its axis.

Extending transversely to the push rods are a plurality of Usshaped rodactuating members 64 extending parallel to each other between the upperand lower rows of push rods and spaced apart between each pair of holes58 in the upper and lower push rods. The U-shaped rod actuators opentoward the stop tabs and are provided with pad members 66 on the edgesof the legs of the U-shaped actuator to dampen any sound arising fromthe U-shaped actuators contacting the pins 60. Each rod actuator 64 isattached to a pair of upstanding lever members 70 which are affixed toan elongated rod 68 at each end thereof. Each rod-68 has reduced endportions 72 which are journalled for rotation in a pair of flangedsupport members 54. As seen in FIGURE 3 the rod actuators are locatedbetween each row of the push rods and the lever members 70 extenddownwardly to the rod 68 which is positioned below the lower row of pushrods. Attached to and extending downwardly from each rod 68 is a leverarm 74.

The lever 74 is pivoted at 76 to projection 78. Projection 78 isadjustably threaded on connecting rod 80 at one end thereof. The otherend of the connecting rod 80 is connected to the piston 14. Adjustablymounted on the connecting rod 80 is a slidable collar 82 held in placeby set screw 84. The flanged bushing 16 which guides the piston 14carries a pin 86 projecting downwardly from the inner end thereof and aspring 85 is connected between the set screw 84 and the pin 86 to biasthe connecting rod 80 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3. An adjustablestop collar 90 is slidably secured to the connecting rod 80 by a setscrew 92. An annular pad 94 sur rounds the connecting rod 80 and ispositioned between the bushing 16 and the stop collar 96 to cushion thereturn movement of the piston to its outward position.

In operation, upon depression of the piston 14 by the organist the pushrod 80 will move to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3 rocking the rod 68which in turn causes the U-shaped rod actuator 64 to pivot toward theright. The upper flange of the U-shaped actuator is adapted to contact apin 60 which might be positioned in the hole 58 adjacent to therespective U-shaped rod actuator 64 whereas the lower flange of theU-shaped rod actuator is adapted to contact. a projecting pin member 60if one is located in the adjacent hole in the lower push rod. Notcounting the end pin which cooperates with the guide member 62, eachpush rod has, in the device shown in FIGURE 3, six holes therethrough ora corresponding number of holes equal to the number of U-shaped rodactuators employed in a particular setting board. There are six pins, inthis particular instance, provided for each pair, 38, 39, of push rodsand each pin may be positioned adjacent of one of the U-shaped rodactuators in either the upper push rod 38 or the lower push rod 39 thusdetermining which push rod of the pair will be actuated uponcorresponding movement of the associated U-shaped rod actuator 64. It isapparent that if the pin 60 is located in the lower push rod 39, asillustrated in the example of FIGURE 3, that upondepression of theplunger 14 the U-shaped actuator 64 will move to the right and the lowerflange thereof will contact the pin 60 and push the rod 39 to the rightagainst the action of the spring 52. The end of the reduced portion 50will then contact the end plate 24 of the stop tab 12 on the lower sideof the pivot point 22 thereby causing the projectingtab portion 12 tomove to its upper limit or off position in the window 8. In like mannerwhen pin 60 is positioned in the hole of the upper push rod and thecorresponding actuator 64 is moved to the right the upper pushrod 38will move to the right against the action of the spring 52 with the endof the reduced portion 48 contacting the upper portion of the end plate24 of the stoptab 12 thereby tiltingthe tab 12 to a lower or on positionin the window 8. The organist need only depress the piston14'momentarily and thereafter spring will return the piston 14 to itsnormal position and the spring 52 will return the actuated rod member 38or 39 to its extreme left hand position where it is completely out ofcontact with the end plate 24 of the stop tab 12. In this way theorganist may, at his option, add or subtract additional stop members onan individual basis to the selected combination since the ends of thepush rods will not interfere with such a selective movement.

It is understood, of course, that any number of push rods may be useddepending upon the number of stop tabs utilized in a particulararrangementv and likewise the number of U-shaped rod actuators may beincreased or decreased depending upon the number of preset combinationsdesired in the particular organ.

When the organist desires to preset a difierent combination for aparticular piston 14 the pins 60 are easily removable from the holes 58by merely grasping and pulling the same, for example, by pliers-typetools. The lower set of rods 39 is olfset from the upper row of rods 38as clearly shown in FIGURE 2 thereby enablingthe organist to have accessto the pins on the lower push rods 39. An ordinary and common tool suchas pointednose pliers, or the like, could be used to reach down betweenthe upper push rods 38 to grasp the pins 60 in the lower push rods toinsert or remove the same. As previously pointed out, there is only onepin associated with each U-shaped rod actuator for each pair of rods(38, 39) and it may be located in either the upper push rod 38 whichwill move the stop tab 12 to an on position or may be associated withthe lower push rod 39 which is adapted to move the stop tab 12 to itsoff position.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the precise details of construction and operation herein shown anddescribed, for various modifications within the scope of the appendingclaims may occur to persons skilled in the art. For example, theactuation of movable rod actuators 64 need not be mechanical and manualbut may be electrical and remotely controlled as is known in the organart.

What is claimed is:

1. A preset setter board for use with an electro-pneumatic organcomprising a panel member, a plurality of stop tabs pivoted on saidpanel member between an on and off position, a plurality of pistonmembers mounted in said panel member for reciprocating movement betweena setting position and a normal position, a support member mounted onsaid panel, a plurality of elongated parallel push rods slidably mountedon said support member for reciprocating movement along the lengththereof, a pair of said push rods being aligned with each stop tabrespectively, one of each of said pairs of push rods adapted to engage aportion of its respective stop tab to pivot said stop tab to said onposition and the other of each of said pair of push rods adapted toengage another portion of its respective stop tab to pivot said stop tabto said oil position; linkage means interconnecting each of said pistonswith a predetermined number of said push rods whereby upon actuation ofeach of said pistons to its setting position a pre-determined number ofstop tabs will be pivoted to the on position and a pre-determined numberof stop tabs will be pivoted to the ofi position.

2. A preset setter board according to claim 1 wherein said stop tabs arearranged adjacent to each other in sideby-side relation with the pivotaxis of each tab in longitudinal alignment with the pivot axis of othertabs, each of said tabs being substantially T-shaped with the cross baroriented in a generally vertical manner with said pivot axis disposed atthe junction at the cross bar and stem of said T-shaped tab.

3. A preset setter board according to claim 2 wherein said rods arearranged in two parallel rows with the on position controlling rod ofeach of said pairs being disposed in the same row, a plurality ofparallel movable rod actuators equal in number to said pistons disposedbetween and transverse to said rows of push rods, connecting meansbetween each of said actuators and said corresponding pistons andadjustable abutment means mounted on said push rods and adapted to becontacted by said actuators upon movement of the same by said pistons toshift said push rods towards said stop tabs.

4. A preset setter board according to claim 3 wherein said connectingmeans comprises means pivoting each of said actuators to said supportmember about a separate axis spaced from and parallel to said actuatorsbelow said rods, a lever connecting said pivot means to said pistonwhereby upon depression of said piston the pivot means are rocked tomove said actuators.

5. A preset setter board according to claim 4 wherein means are providedto bias said piston and said rods to an inoperative position, said rodsbeing spaced from said tabs in said inoperative position to enableindividual manual manipulation of said tabs.

6. A preset setter board according to claim 3 wherein said adjustableabutment means comprises a plurality of vertically disposed holesthrough each push rod equal in number to and adjacent to each of saidtransverse actuators, each hole being offset with respect to itsadjacent actuator ou the side of said actuator toward said stop tabs, aplurality of pins for each of said pairs of push rods equal in number tosaid actuators removably received in said holes and projecting therefromto contact said actuators upon movement of said actuators.

7. A preset setter board according to claim 6 wherein each of said pinshave two ends one end of which is of smaller cross section than theother and said holes through said push rods having a cross sectionenabling the small end of the pin to pass therethrough while preventingthe passage of the larger end, said pins being of a length to protrudeon opposite side of said holes.

8. A preset setter board according to claim 7 wherein said pins are ofgenerally frusto-conical shape.

9. A preset setter board according to claim 4 wherein said rod actuatorsare of a generally U-shaped cross sectional configuration whereby oneleg of the U is adapted to contact a pin mounted in one of the rows ofpush rods and the other leg of the U is adapted to contact a pin mountedin the other row of push rods.

10. A stop tab arrangement for organs comprising a support brackethaving means for mounting said bracket to a panel member, pivot meansmounted on said bracket, a substantially T-shaped stop tab pivoted onsaid pivot means and spring means between said tab and said bracket tohold said tab in either of two positions, said bracket being a generallyflat rectangular plate having open ended slots at each end thereofadapted to receive attaching screws, a pair of upstanding ears on oneside thereof adjacent the mid point of said bracket, a pivot pin mountedin said ears, said T-shaped stop tab having a stem and cross bar, theportion of the T adjacent the intersecting point defining an openingwhich is adapted to receive said bracket and pivot means therein, saidcross bar being pivoted on said pivot pin and extending substantiallyparallel to said bracket on one side thereof, said stem straddling saidbracket and extending substantially perpendicular thereto on theopposite side thereof, whereby said arrangement provides a quicklyattachable and detachable self contained module.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,775,260 9/1930 Verlinden 84-343ROBERT S. WARD, 1a., Primary Examiner.

GARY M. POLUMBUS, Assistant Examiner.

